Foaming agent for use in industrial products

Abstract

A foaming agent comprising an amount of soy whey protein is disclosed herein, the soy whey protein having been isolated from processing streams. The foaming agent is especially suitable for producing a personal care product or an industrial product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foaming agent comprising an amount of soy whey protein. 
     
     
         2 . The foaming agent of  claim 1 , wherein the soy whey protein has a soluble solids index (SSI) of at least about 80% across a pH range of from 2 to 10 and a temperature of 25° C. 
     
     
         3 . The foaming agent of  claim 1 , wherein the foaming agent comprises 100% by weight of soy whey protein. 
     
     
         4 . The foaming agent of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional foaming agent. 
     
     
         5 . The foaming agent of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one additional foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of mono- & diglycerides of fatty acids, esters of monoglycerides of fatty acids, mono- & diglycerides, propylene glycol monoesters, lecithin, hydroxylated lecithin, dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate, sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (SSL), calcium stearoyl lactate (CSL), sorbitan monolaurate (Polysorbate 20), sorbitan monopalmitate (Polysorbate 40), sorbitan monostearate (Polysorbate 60), sorbitan monooleate (Polysorbate 80), sorbitan tristearate, stearyl citrate, polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR), lactylates, sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), cocamide diethanolamine, triethanolamine, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate (INCl), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The foaming agent of  claim 4 , wherein the foaming agent comprises between about 25% to about 99.9% by weight of soy whey protein. 
     
     
         7 . The foaming agent of  claim 1 , wherein the molecular weight of the soy whey protein is between about 8 kDa and about 50 kDa. 
     
     
         8 . A personal care product comprising the foaming agent of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The personal care product of  claim 8 , wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of toothpaste, hair color product, face soap, hand soap, body soap, and hair styling foam. 
     
     
         10 . The personal care product of  claim 8 , wherein the foaming agent is present in the industrial product in an amount from about 0.1% to about 25% by weight of the product. 
     
     
         11 . The personal care product of  claim 10 , wherein the foaming agent is present in the personal care product in an amount from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the product. 
     
     
         12 . An industrial product comprising the emulsifying agent of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The industrial product of  claim 12 , wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of foam mattress, foam cushion, foam pillow, dish soap, laundry soap, a fire retardant product, and a packaging product. 
     
     
         14 . The industrial product of  claim 12 , wherein the foaming agent is present in the industrial product in an amount from about 0.1% to about 25% by weight of the product. 
     
     
         15 . A product comprising a foaming agent, wherein the foaming agent comprises an amount of soy whey protein and wherein the product is a personal care product or an industrial product. 
     
     
         16 . The product of  claim 15 , wherein the product further comprises water. 
     
     
         17 . The product of  claim 15 , wherein the product further comprises at least one additional foaming agent. 
     
     
         18 . The product of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one additional foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of mono- & diglycerides of fatty acids, esters of monoglycerides of fatty acids, mono- & diglycerides, propylene glycol monoesters, lecithin, hydroxylated lecithin, dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate, sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (SSL), calcium stearoyl lactate (CSL), sorbitan monolaurate (Polysorbate 20), sorbitan monopalmitate (Polysorbate 40), sorbitan monostearate (Polysorbate 60), sorbitan monooleate (Polysorbate 80), sorbitan tristearate, stearyl citrate, polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR), lactylates, sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), cocamide diethanolamine, triethanolamine, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate (INCl), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The product of  claim 15 , wherein the product further comprises an ingredient selected from the group consisting of thickening agent, fragrance, pigment, preservatives, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A method of making a product comprising a foaming agent, the method comprising the steps of:
 (1) combining the foaming agent with water to form an aerated mixture; and   (2) processing the aerated mixture into the product, wherein the foaming agent comprises an amount of soy whey protein and wherein the product is a personal care product or an industrial product.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the foaming agent further comprises at least one additional foaming agent. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising adding to the aerated mixture an additional ingredient selected from the group consisting of a thickening agent, fragrance, pigment, preservatives, and combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the foaming agent is present in the industrial product in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 25% by weight. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the personal care product is selected from the group consisting of toothpaste, hair color product, face soap, hand soap, body soap, hair styling foam, 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the industrial product is selected from the group consisting of foam insulation, foam mattress, foam rubber, foam packaging, dish soap, and laundry soap. 
     
     
         26 . A stabilized foaming agent comprising an amount of soy whey protein. 
     
     
         27 . The stabilized foaming agent of  claim 26 , wherein the soy whey protein has a soluble solids index (SSI) of at least about 80% across a pH range of from 2 to 10 and a temperature of 25° C. 
     
     
         28 . The stabilized foaming agent of  claim 26 , wherein the molecular weight of the soy whey protein is between about 8 kDa and about 50 kDa. 
     
     
         29 . A product comprising the stabilized foaming agent of  claim 26 , wherein the product is a personal care product or an industrial product.